Machine-gun



R. F. HUDSON.

MACHINE GUN.

APPLICATION F!LED MAR. 20, 1919. RENEWED JAN. 3. 1921.

1,386,872. Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Attorney R. F. HUDSON.

MACHINE GUN.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20. 1919. RENEWED 1AN.'3. 1921.

Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

a SHEETS-SHEET 2.

R. F. HUDSON.

MACHINE GUN.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20. l9l9- RENEWED JAN. 3. I921.

Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

BSHEETS-SHEET 3.

R. F. HUDSON.

MACHINE GUN.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20'. 1919. RENEWED JAN. 3. 1921.

' PatentedAug. 9; 1921.

Inventor a 1 ETS SHEET 4- m W w w 0m RN Mm. w H v T A N.N\H\ E v g Y 0Q. Rx m/ 1H q mm. a w 0 U .Qk r5. 0 Q m gm Q5 7 SN T lilil F QE v M LEG?1 J mm 1 W k o N U mm R :i m lo d W o I i F H wu. 1 l .n h .w. Mfifiwwfi Wm Q NW R. F. HUDSON.

MACHINE GUN.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-20, 919. RENEWED JAN. 3.1921.

1,386,872, I Patented Aug. 9, 1921..

8 SHEETS-SHEET 5- 6 L, Q *0 J 2d u w in- 6 M 5 Q Q 60 59 34 76 7 7f d, i61 .55 -7 jrwbnfor jifobcrl/flfiwow Afiar ng R. F. HU'DSONI.

MACHINE GUN.

APPLICATION HLED MAR. 20. 1919. RENEWED 1AM. 3.1921.

' 1,386,872. PatentedAug. 9,1921.

I 8 SHEETS-SHEET 6. P l.

R. F. HUDSON.

MACHINE GUN.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20,1-919- RENEWED JAN. 3,1921- Patented Aug. 9,1921.

r u Wm m m cw W x .mm m W 6 x b WM\ WW %m N\ MN w Q R Q Wm is P w w fi/ww w 3 Mb SQ Q. CCCEECC /\\|V\1 NR m i z A g R. F. HUDSON.

MACHINE GUN.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2o 1919. RENEWED JAN. 3. 1921.

1,3 86,87 2, Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

' s SHEETS-SHEET s. 12 .4:

inventor Fobfilif/lifludfon tridges.

MACHINE-GUN.

"To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT F. HUnsoN, a citizen of the United States,residing"at Richmond, in'the county of Henrlco and State of Virginia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machine-Guns, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to improvements in machine guns, one object of theinvention being the provision of positive means by which the cartridgeis delivered to the breech of the barrel, is retained in such posit-ionduring'the firing operation, and theyempty shell or even in case thecartridge should be unexploded, itis removed from the breech of thebarrel and released to move or ran in an opposite direction to theoncoming new car- A. further object of this invention is the provisionof a machinegun in which the firingmechanisms are preferably arrangedin; pairs and whereby a plurality of barrels may be'employed so that anexceedingly effective defensive weapon can be provided and one whichwill positively tact, and in which one or more barrels will bedischarged at a time. p 1 f f A still further object'of this inventionis the provision of a machine gun which elimi nates the defects due tojamming ashas been discovered in all guns using the recoil or gas tooperate the breech block, inasmuch as in-the present mechanism asnapped. cartridge will. be withdrawn from the barrel I g as rapidly asan exploded shell;

, mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings z;v Figure 1 is a side elevation of the complete gun, the lower. part of the tripod being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a'front elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation thereof.Fig. 4 is a top plan Viewv thereof. 7 Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectionalview through the breeches ofthe rifle, showing the relative positionsof'lthe breech block Fig. 6'is an enlargedde tail section on line 6-6 ofFig. 5, showing the parts in the position they assume when having placeda cartridge in the barrel and'just previous to the explodingthereof-Fig. 7 is a similar view to Fig. 6 show iIlg the breechjblock' in theposition a as:

Specification of Letters Patent. i Patgnte 9, 1Q21,

Application filed March 20, 1919, Serial No. 283,807. -Renewd January3,1321. 1 Serial '4e4',s 4o.-

sumes after having released a spent shell and previous to the deliveryof a' cartridge.

gF g. 8 is a section through the frameaof j the mechanismsubstantiallyon the line 8+8 of Fig. '6,'showing the trigger settingslots,

and adjacent mechanism,

Figs. 9 and 1 0,are detail views ofvarious parts of the present machinegun.

' Referring to the drawings, the" numeral V 20 designatesa'tripod or anysupport by" means of which the horizontal swivel21 may be mounted'sothat the mechanism-may be swung from right to left, the yoke 22m portingthe rod 23;which as shown in Fig. '6, is .mounted in' the slot 24 to"cotiperate with the compression spring 251m re eeivethe recoil of thegunand atthe same time to permit variouselevations fas the rod231prbvides a means 'forpermitting vertical swing: ing movement of thecomplete mechanism. The projection 26 carries the. spring 25 and alsothecomplete gunmechanismg- Carried at the forward portion thereof,isthe'plate 2? having aplurality of interiorly threaded socketsj28 forthe'r'emovable reception of the gun barrels 29. ,VVher'emore than one ofthe barrels are employe d, the sockets 28 are so arranged as to permitof a fan-like arrangement of the barrels, it being intended that atarange of 1000 yards that the bullets fired from the various barrels."will be' The'barrels therefore will 1 r 18 inchesapart. I not beabsolutely parallel.

- Surrounding thebarrel s, eitheronegat-a time or all of them, is thewater jacket 30 byineans of whichtheyare' cooled. Any

desired means may be employed for cooling l l the barrels,-that hereshown merelybeing an example of one method ofdoirig it. The barrelcarrying plate is provided Wlthga, plurality of pins 31v for engagementin the sockets 32, the catches83 and pins 34 being employed to lock thesame downwardly against movement, while the pins 35 are employed toprevent any forward tilting movement.v Abracket 36 is also employed (toinsure the proper locking of the parts to the frame of the machine. V

Formed integral with the portion 26 and extending rearwardly'therefrom,are the two side plates 37 which areconnected together by" means of theplate38 provided with Pa 2 plurality of triggercocking slots 39, hereROBERT F. .rrunsoiv, or RIGHIVIOND, VIRGINIA.

shown eight in number. It will be here noted that the se'slots arearranged in fours in-stepped relation, as in a gun of this size, eightbarrels, four barrels are cocked at one time and instead ofthrowinglthefullpower in the cocking operation at one time, they are operated insuccession by the respective in member'65 when 111' breech block closingslots 39, as will presently appear,

Attached to the upper surface oi the side plates 37 is the top plate 40which as here shown, is provided with the cartridge receiving apertures41 and the reduced slots 42 for the reception'of the locking lug .43ofthe cartridge mechanism 44, this slot. being ex tended from the rearof the plate 40 soanumber of mechanisms beflplaced in positio'i'noneafter the other,the spentmagazine being automatically released when itis adjacent the slot 41 to fall over or be re moved by hand, as isnecessary. Between the plates 88 and 40 is'a heavier plate 45, which isprovided with substantially dovetail shaped grooves 46, one to eachbreech block mechanism 47, and asv each breech block mechanism'is aduplicate'of the other,

the description ofone will sufiicc'for all. Each breech block'mechanismconsists of a bar 48 provided upon its under side with the rack 49, thepurpose of which will pres-- ently appear, the notch 50, and withthecani end 51, while at its forward lower end it is provided with theribs 52 and53 for the receptionof the ejector carrying block 54,

whichis slidably mounted thereon and limited in itsforward movement.by;means of the slot 55 and the pin 56. In the slot 57 or theoppositely disposedwings 58 of the member 54, there are disposed thecartridge carrying and ejecting levers 59, each one of which'is providedwith the rim engaging terminal 60andthe cam engaging operatingprojections 61,'a spring 62 b'eingxprovided to normally hold theends 69toward each other and in frictional engagcmentwith the cartridge Ceven'be'fore'the retractire movement of the breech block and. after ithas been seated within the groove 63 0f said cartridge, the samemaintaining its position even after the cartridge is "within the breechof the barrel, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6. In order to release themembers 59 so as to permit the empty shell'to tall and assume theposition as shown in Fig. 7, there is disposed in the path of the ends61 thereof, the pins 6, Fig. 5, it being here shown'in the position itassumes when some of the shells have been delivered to the breech of thebarrels and the others' in position forbeing moved forward as grippedbetweenthe eject: lng mechanism, the full barrel movement of r thebreech block [causing the, cartridge to assume the position as shown inthe barrel with the ends 60 in engagementwith the rim this means,whether the shell. eX-

plodes or not 'andupon the retractive movement of the block, it isremoved from the barrel and released to receive the next cartridge abovefrom the magazine.

Upon the upper surface of the block 47 at the forward end thereof andparallel with the ribs 52 and 53, 1s a tubular member 65 which guidesthe firing pin 66,: the tubular position assuming the position asshown'in Fig. 6, and closing the breech while the mer 69 whichconsists-0t asubstantially L-shaped plate 'witlrthe. terminal 70 guidedunderthe cross-bar17l and carrying the cylindrical rod '72 upon which.is supported spring '73 which is a compression spring and isdisp'ose lbetween the lug 70 and the head 69, so as to exert tension toward thetiring pin. The rear end 74 of the hammer is hingedly connected as at75to'the hammer setting and releasing-block 76 which-is provided with apin 77 for fitting within the I slot'YS offlthe setting sear mounted inthe slot 80 of the breech blocl upon the, pin

:81. As-the' breech block is retracted in its 7 movement, the; searhaving its, lowerv end 82 projected through its respective slot 39, therear endofthe slot'is engaged and 'tlie'end S2, moved upwardly seas 'to'cause the block 76 to he slid rearwardly to cook the hammer, the lock83du'ringthis movement engaging .over the upper end of the cam 51 of themem ber 48 and. assuming the position as shown in Fig. 6,7with thespring73 retractjed and the hammer cocked. V

In order to impart reciprocating ii1ovcment to the member 48, which inreality is theibreeciliblock, there is jonrnalcd transversely oi theframe, the shaft 84 which has mounted I thereon two oppositely disposedtoothed segments85 and' 86, whose shaft her being shown as operated bythe crank 87, although 'it i's to-be understood that this s'haftmaybejoperat'echby a spring, electric or gasolene motoras may befounddesirable in practice; Alsofmounted upon the hea 841s a cam 8(., hav1ngthe oppos tely d sposed notches 88 and 89.

7 It may be said that in a gunof any number of barrels only two of thesecams-are employed and therefore only two. of the breeehblock mechanisms48' are provided with racks 49 so that when the shaft 84 is rotatedthese toothed segments 85 and 86 impart forward movement first to onebreech mechanism and then the other, In view or thisffactfit isthereforenecessary to'havc motion imparted from the respective breech blockstothe rcmei'ning'jones and in order to accomplish this theracks 90 and 91are provided upon opposite sldesof the respec- 7 that any-number: ofbreechblock mechanisms and barrels may be employed and tive breechmechanisms so as to engagethe loose pinions 92 and therefore transmitmotion alternately to the various breech block mechanisms'supported inthe. frame.

i In order to lock and release the breech blocks in their. extremeforward or rearward position and at the same'time to release the hammersto operate upon thefir- 'ing pinsythere -ismounted at the rear of theframe tWo arms 93 which are guided at the rear of theframe and carry thecrossbar 943-which is adapted to sit Within the notches of therespective 'mechanisms When retracted toilock" them in such posi-- tionand to extend to'the rear to engage the cam surface 51 of the projectormechanisms, the continued forwardmovement: of thebar 94: engaging thetrigger 83 to raise it from engagement in-the position as shown in Fig.6,- so as to release the memberf76 and the hammer 69 to the action'ofthe spring 73,

the parts being in absolute locked 'POSltlOIl beforegthis occurs. Thespring 95, mounted in the casing 96," and also inthe hollow plunger 97Which is connected to the frame 93,- normally holds the crossbar 94 up:

wardly; In order to release the cross-bar 9st, 'thecam 87 is provided,the continued movement ofthe cam riding upon the tooth 98 carried by thelever 99, Which is'pivoted at' the forWard send at theslot 100 of theframe and at the rear end as at 101 to the arms 93. This action causesthe-depression of the arms 93 and the cross-bar 94against the actionofthe spring 95'so that a cross- From the foregoing description taken inconnection 'Wltll the:drawings, it is evident maybe driven from a singleshell andthat by means of this mechanism each alternate breech "blockmechan1sm'-W1ll be simultaneously retracted andthe spent shell ejectedWhile the others Will be projected with the new cartridge taken fromthemechanisms to be deliveredjin the breech of the barrels. 7 It is alsoevident from this construction that the action; of inserting andWithdrawing the cartridge and-its shell is absolutely positive and "thatshould a cartridge fail to explode it ill be ejected just the same asvifit had exploded- 7 latter case a {n will also be noted, that witheachhalf f revolution in 'the' main shaft that in this construction fourbarrels will explode "and that While fou-rare being" exploded the otherfour are being made ready; and 'at'xthe completionof the revolution theremaining ones Will be fired. T c V w It is also apparent that thismechanism may be'used with a single barrel or any number of pairsandthat'any odd number also may be=used as'may befound desirable, Thepresent mechanism is so constructed and adapted as to take any ofthedesired calibers,'that is, rangingfrom the rifle car V tridgeto the oneor tWo pounders, in the different mounting would; be

employed,

What I claimasrnewis: 1. In a machine gun, the combination of asupporting frame,a barrel attached thereto and having the breechadjacent to the frame, afsliding breech blockmountedin the framef'forstraight line movement; to

and from the breech of thebarrel, a'firing' pin and a. searcarried bythe-breech block,

mechanical means for imparting reciproca tion to the block, andcooperating cartridge inserting and ejecting means carried vby the blockand in the path thereof,:whereby the cartridge is firmly grasped duringinsertion, held during firing, and released'upon retractridge;

tion beforetheengagement-of a new car- -2. In a machine-gumthecombination of a frame, two'barrels connected to the frame, tworeciprocating breech blocks, one to each barrel mounted'ln the frame, asinglemeans for imparting reciprocations toisaid breech blocksfafiringb-pin'carried by each breech 1i block, a sear also carried byeach-breech block, cooperative means carried by the operating mechanismand'the frame for setting the firing pin and sear upon the retractivemovement of th'e breech block and for releasing the firing, pin attheend of the projecting movement" of the breech block, andcooperating"cartridge inserting and ejecting means carried by the blockandin the path'thereof, Wherebythe cartridge is firmlygrasped-duringinsertion, held during firing, and released upon'retraction before the engagement of a new cartridge. 5

3. In a machinefgun, the combination of a frame, tWo barrels connectedto the frame, UVO,I'8CipI'Of'&t71Dg" breech blocks, one to each barrelmounted in the frame, a single'means for; imparting reoiprocations tosaid breech bloclrs ,a firing. pin' carried by each breech blo k, a searalso carried by each breech block, cooperative means carried by theoperating mechanism and'the frame for-seat ing the'firing pin andsearupon the retractive'movcment of the breechblock and forj releasing thefiring pin atfthe end' of the projecting movementof the breech block;

and a cartridge inserting and extracting barrel mounted'in the frame, asingle means for imparting reciprocations to said breech blocks, a firmgpm carried by each breech block, a sear also carried by eachbreechblock', coeperative means carried "by the operating mechanism andthe frame for seat, ,ing the firing pin and sear'upon the retractivcmovement ofthe breech blockand" for releasing-the firing pin at the'end'of the pro]ect1ng movement of the breech block, a

' cartridge inserting and 'exti:'acting means carried by theforward: endof the breech block, said latter means including meansv adapted to bedlsposed upon opposite sides of the cartridge torform a guide and holderfor the cartridge during the'in's'ertion there of within the'breec'h,and means disposed in the path of the'latter for operating the same todrop the: shell after beingremoved from thGi'bIQGChL Q f l 5.In amachine gun, the combina'tion with aframe having a ,plurality: ofguides, a plurality of barrels connected at :their breech-to the frame,one adjacent to each guide, a breechblock mounted for reciproca tion ateach guide of the frame, a firing-pin and sear earned by each breechblock, means mounted in the frame and disposed in the I path ofthebreech block for retracting the firing pin and locking the same at oneend of the stroke and means disposed at the opposite end of the framefor releasing the firing pin at theopposite stroke, a one direction',movement means mounted in the frame and, connecting the breech blocks inpairs, whereby one breech block isproj ected and theother is retracted,means for'feeding cartridges to each guide when thebreech block isretracted, cartridge-engaging and guiding means carried by thebreec'hblock, and cooperative means in the path ofthe latter means forreleasing 'the"cartridge when-removed from the breech.

6; In a machine' gun, the combination with a frame having two guides,two barrels connected at their breech to the frame, one adjacent to eachguide, a breech block mounted for reciprocating in each guide of theframe, a firing pin and sear carriediby each breech block, means mountedin the frame and disposed in the path of the breech block for retractingthe firing pin' and lock I ingthe same {at one end of the stroke-andmeans disposed at the opposite end of the frame for releasing he firingpinat the ,the dropping of a spent oppositestroke, a transverseshaft'journald 'in-theframebelow the breech block, two

oppositely disposed'segments carried by the shaft, cooperating me'anscarried by each segment "and its respective breech block wvhereby whenits respective segmentis engaged theobreech block is moved forward,

coeperative means carried" by both breech blocks whereby the movementforward" of one breech block imparts a rearwardqmovement-to theremaining breech block, and co' operativelocking mechanism controlled bythe shaft for docking both breech blocks simultaneously, one in itsextreme forward and the other inits extreme rearward position. j 1: 7"1,7.- In combination a machine gun having a1 reciprocable breechgblock,anauxi'liary slid able block "mounted at the forward end thereof andbodily carried by theqbreech block, cartridge holding andextractingmembers carried by the latter, said members includingresilient cartridge engaging means which are adapted, to grip thecartridge upon. opp'ositeisides adjacent the forwardvend thereof andretainthe vsamevin such position until the cartridge has been pushedforward and seated withinthe barrel-at which time such members engagethe rim endof-the shell and-act as an extractor upon-the retractionofthebreechblock, and cooperative means disposed" in E the path thereoffor releasing the same to permit of cartridge.

' 8. In a-machine gun, the combination of a frame having two guides,twobreech blocks mounted therein and: provided each with rack-teeth uponthe lower face thereof, a shaft journal'ejdtransversely of the frame,

two oppositely"disposed toothed segments mounted uponthe shaft foralternately engaging the ra" k "bars of the breech blocks to move themin breech. closing position, and cooperative means between the breechblocks whereby the movement of one breech' block to breech closlngposition'moves the other breech block :to breech openingposition, 9. Ina machine gunjthe combination of 7 a frame having two guldes, two breechblocks mounted "therein and providedeach with rack teeth upon the lowerface thereof,

a shaft journaled transversely of the frame, two oppositely disposedtoothed segments mounted upon the shaft; for alternately engagingtherack-b'ars of the breech blocks to move them in breechclosing'position, co-

operative means betweenthe breech blocks whereby the movement of onebreech block to breech, closing position moves the other breech block tobreech opening position, and coeperativ'e" locking means operable fromthe shaft, for engaging the breech V blocks .to momentarily lock thesame in retracted or breech c1osing-position.

10. In" a machine gun, the com'bll lation of a frame having two guides,two breech other breech block to breech opening position, cooperativelocking means operable from the shaft, for engaging the breech blocks tomomentarily lock the same in re- 7 tracted or breech closing position,said latter means including a reciprocable bar guided in the frame forengaging the extreme rear or underside of the breech blocks, a levermounted in the same and operably connected to the reciprocable bar, anda cam mounted, upon the shaft for operating the lever.

11. In a machine gun, the combination of a frame having a guide way, abarrel having the breech mounted in the frame adjacent to the guide way,a breech block slidably mounted in the guide for straight line movementto and from the barrel, a slidable member mounted on the barrel end ofthe breech block and capable of independent movement therewith,resilient cartridge engaging arms carried by the latter and adapted toreceive a cartridge therebetween whereby the cartridge is held beyondthe center thereof during the movementof the breech block to the barrel,the final movement of the breech block causing the slidable member to bemoved rearwardly in the block sothat the cartridge engaging membersthereof will engage the rim of the cartridge when seated in the barreland form an extractor therefor when the breech block is retracted.

12. In a machine gun, the combination of a frame having a guide way, abarrel having the breech mounted in the frame adjacent to the guide way,a breech block rslidably mounted in the guide for straight line movementto and from the barrel, a slidable member mounted on the barrel end ofthe breech block and capable of independent movement therewith,resilient cartridge engaging arms carried by the latter and adapted toreceive a cartridge therebetween whereby the cartridge is held beyondthe center thereof during the movement of the breech block to thebarrel, the final movement of a I the breech bl-ock causing the slidablememher to be moved rearwardly in the block so that the cartridgeengaging members thereof will engage the rim of the cartridge whenseated in the barrel and form an extractor therefor when the breechblock is retracted,

and cooperative -means carried bythe resilient cartridge engagingmembers and the walls of the guide way for releasing such member fromengagement with the rim" of the cartridge upon the retractive movementofthebloc.

' 13. In a machine gun, the combination of a frame having a guide way,abreech block slidable therein, a barrel having the breech disposed inthe frame at one, end of the guide way, a cartridge magazine disposedabove and adjacent the inner end of the guide way, the block 54slidablycarried in the breech end of the breech block, means for holdingthe same in extreme forward'position when the breech blockis'retracted',

cooperating cartridge engaging means carried by the block 54 anddisposedto grip the cartridge upon opposite sides intermedi ate of the endsthereof when received-from the magazine and to engagexthe rim ,ofthecartridge when the same is seated within the barrel and the block 54'isretractedwithin the breech block. L

14. In a machine gun, the combination of" V i a frame having a guideway, a breech bl k 7 slidable therein, a barrel having the breech I v Idisposed in the frameat one end of the guide way, a cartridge magazinedisposed above and adjacent the inner end of the guide way,

the block 54 slidably' carried in the breech end of the breech block,means for holding the same in extreme forward position when the breechblock isretracted, cooperating cartridge engaging means carried by theblock 54 and disposed to'grip the cartridge upon opposite sidesintermediate of the ends 7 thereof when received from the magazine andto'engage the rim of the cartridge when the same is seated within thebarrel and the block 54 is retracted within thebreech block,andcooperative means disposed in the path of the engaging means of theblock 54 for operating the same to release the cartridge upon theretractive movement of the breech I block.

r In testimony whereof I afiix ROBERT F.

m si nature. rfhifsou.

